Tool and Die Makers Salary
In Pennsylvania, tool and die makers earn $61,160 at the median, or about $29.4 an hour. The range runs from $46K at the entry level to $78K for experienced workers. Cost of living is below average (RPP 94.97), which stretches that salary to about $64,399 in buying power. A 2-bedroom apartment runs $1,351/month, about 33% of take-home, which is tight.
Statewide average. Salary and cost of living vary significantly across Pennsylvania. Jump to a metro for precise data:
So what does $61K get you in Pennsylvania?
About tool and die makers
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What this looks like in Pennsylvania
Tool and die makers pay in Pennsylvania tracks closely to the national median, $61K locally vs. $64K nationwide, a 5% difference. Rent runs $1,351/month for a 2-bedroom (HUD FMR), taking 32.9% of the median take-home. That's within the 30% rule, though not by much. Regional Price Parity sits at 94.97 (national = 100), meaning everyday costs run about 5% cheaper here. Your dollar stretches further than the headline salary suggests. Pay and costs are both near average, leaving limited margin for savings at the median wage.
Compensation breakdown
Annual earnings by percentile, Pennsylvania
Entry-level tool and die makers (10th percentile) start around $46K. Mid-career wages sit at $61K. Top earners bring in $78K or more, a $32K spread from bottom to top.
Tool and Die Makers salary by metro in Pennsylvania
11 metro areas with BLS data, ranked by median pay
| Metro area | Median salary | vs. state | Employment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington | $74K | +21% | 510 |
| York-Hanover | $66K | +8% | 200 |
| Reading | $65K | +7% | 100 |
| Harrisburg-Carlisle | $65K | +6% | 130 |
| Scranton--Wilkes-Barre | $65K | +6% | 120 |
| Erie | $64K | +4% | 230 |
| Lebanon | $62K | +1% | 30 |
| Pittsburgh | $61K | +0% | 660 |
| Lancaster | $60K | -1% | 230 |
| Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton | $54K | -12% | 180 |
| Williamsport | $50K | -18% | 60 |
Showing 1–10 of 11 metros
Compare to other states
Track tool and die makers salary changes
BLS updates this data quarterly. We'll email you when Pennsylvania numbers change.
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Frequently asked questions
Can a tool and die maker afford a 2BR apartment alone in Pennsylvania?
It’s a stretch — at the median salary of $61K, rent takes 32.9% of take-home pay. A 2-bedroom at the HUD Fair Market Rent runs $1,351/month. The 30% guideline puts the comfortable ceiling at roughly $1,200/month in rent — so roommates or a 1-bedroom would ease the math significantly.
What’s the entry-level salary for tool and die makers in Pennsylvania?
The 10th-percentile wage — what new tool and die makers typically earn — is $46K/year. Take-home on that works out to about $2,761/month. At HUD’s $1,351/month FMR, rent would take 49% of that take-home — above the 30% guideline, so a 1-bedroom or shared housing is likely necessary starting out.
Is tool and die maker a high-paying job in Pennsylvania?
Pay here is roughly in line with the national average — $61K locally vs. $64K nationally, a 5% difference.
How does Pennsylvania compare to the national average for tool and die makers?
Pennsylvania pays $61K median vs. the U.S. average of $64K — that’s -5%. After adjusting for local cost of living (RPP 94.97), the purchasing-power equivalent is $64K — still ahead of the national median.
How much do tool and die makers make in Pennsylvania?
The median is $61,160 a year, that works out to about $29 an hour. But the range is wide: entry-level workers start around $46,010, and experienced tool and die makers can clear $78,090. These are BLS numbers, based on employer-reported data, not self-reported surveys.
Is $61K enough to live in Pennsylvania?
On that salary, you'd take home roughly $4,109/month after taxes. A 2-bedroom here rents for about $1,351/month, which eats 32.9% of your paycheck. That's above the 30% rule of thumb, housing will be a stretch at the median salary, though you can manage with roommates or a smaller place.
How far does a tool and die makers salary go in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has a Regional Price Parity of 94.97 (100 is the national average). That's below average, your money stretches further here than the raw salary number suggests. After cost-of-living adjustment, the median tool and die makers salary is worth about $64,399 in national-average purchasing power.
Where do tool and die makers get paid the most?
The table above ranks every state by median pay for this role. Keep in mind that the highest-paying states tend to have the highest costs of living, so the top salary doesn't always mean the most money in your pocket.